Julie was the first member of the Grabbe family to greet me at the airport when I first landed in Kansas. The connection was immediate, when I saw her for the first time I felt like I had known her forever.

Communication has been very solid since we matched on the Agent Au Pair portal. I feel like that has been the key to such a good relationship in these almost two years. She’s more than a host mom, she has been my source of inspiration and admiration. Julie has shown me, through her example, authenticity and advice to have a clearer vision of what I want to achieve and be in the future. This was one of the reasons why I decided to make an extension with the same family.

Thanks to her advice and ideas I have been able to make good decisions in crucial moments. Julie represents a role model for me. In these almost two years living in this family, I have seen firsthand how she manages to have a balance between her professional and personal life. When I ask her how she manages to be able to balance her life and not die trying, she always answers that it is because she has me supporting her. It feels very nice to hear that she appreciates my work.

However, I admire the work she does as a teacher to her children, wife of Mr. John, business woman, mother of two beautiful children, family psychologist, chef of the best recipes, life coach, etc.

This exchange program has not only given me an authentic experience but a family for life and a second mother and genuine friend. The photos here are from my first and last New Year’s Eve with my American mother. In both years, we did some cabalas that are customary to do in my country. The main cabala was to walk the streets of Schoenchen on January 1st at 12:00 a.m. with our suitcases in hand to manifest and attract trips in this new year 2024.